Molly's mother ends custody fight

The mother of tug-of-love schoolgirl Molly Campbell has spoken of the "soul-searching" that led her to drop her fight for full custody of her daughter.

Louise Campbell said her decision not to pursue her case to have the 12-year-old returned to the Western Isles from Pakistan where she fled last year was "very difficult".

It led to her instructing lawyers at an Islamabad court to offer an out-of-court settlement for regular access through visitation rights for Molly.

Molly's father Sajad Rana said he was now examining the proposal, which has come after more than four months of international wrangling.

But he warned that his daughter would not want to return to Scotland even to visit her mother.

Molly, also known as Misbah Rana, fled her former Stornoway home in August last year. Ms Campbell said she had been fighting for custody during that time because it was "best" for her daughter.

In a statement issued through her Scotland-based solicitors, Ms Campbell said: "I have fought very hard to have Molly returned to me because I believe that it would be best for her.

"She knows that I love her very much and that I will always be there for her. Everything I have done has been for Molly. However, after much soul-searching and consideration of all the factors, I have now made proposals through my solicitor in Pakistan to Mr Rana."

Ms Campbell's lawyer in Pakistan said her client's failing health had led to the out-of-court settlement offer.

Speaking from Lahore, Molly's father Sajad Rana said his daughter would refuse to go back to Scotland as part of any parental access settlement - but added that her mother was welcome to visit Lahore as often as she wanted.